Classifying digital media based on content

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented method for classifying digital content can include displaying one or more poster frames in a user interface, wherein a poster frame corresponds to an item of digital content, displaying one or more first level classification panes adjacent to a poster frame corresponding to an item to be classified, wherein a first level classification pane is associated with a keyword, and enabling a user to associate a poster frame with a first level classification pane to cause the keyword associated with the first level classification pane to be associated with the item to which the poster frame corresponds.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The following description relates to classifying items of digitalcontent, e.g., video, audio, images, and the like, based on content.

BACKGROUND

Scenes in motion can be captured and recorded using a variety of devicesranging from state-of-the-art professional video cameras used intelevision and movie-making to simple cameras on cellular telephones.Some of the devices that can be used to capture motion pictures,including digital camcorders and digital cameras, allow storing thecaptured images in digital format including the moving picture expertsgroup. (MPEG) format. Depending on device capabilities and usersettings, a camera can capture and store both audio and video. Therecorded information is automatically stored in digital format and canbe easily transported to secondary devices, including a hard disk of acomputer, using various wired or wireless communications protocols suchas bluetooth or universal serial bus (USB).

Video editing software, such as iMovie HD 6.0.1, enables users to viewand perform non-linear editing on raw footage. Such editing may includecutting segments of the footage, re-arranging segments of the same videoclip, re-arranging and combining segments of multiple video clips,and/or modifying the captured content by adding or substituting othercontent including audio tracks, voice-overs, titles, associatingkeywords to all or portions of a video clip, and transitions betweenframes.

SUMMARY

In one example, items of digital content in located in a storage devicecan be displayed in a user interface. The user can be presented with oneor more repositories that represent a first level for classifying theitems of digital content. When the user transfers an item of digitalcontent to a first level repository, additional levels of classificationcorresponding to each first level repository can be presented to theuser to further classify the item of digital content.

In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for classifying digitalcontent is described. The method includes displaying one or more posterframes in a user interface, wherein a poster frame corresponds to anitem of digital content, displaying one or more first levelclassification panes adjacent to a poster frame corresponding to an itemto be classified, wherein a first level classification pane isassociated with a keyword, and enabling a user to associate a posterframe with a first level classification pane to cause the keywordassociated with the first level classification pane to be associatedwith the item to which the poster frame corresponds.

This, and other aspects, can include one or more of the followingfeatures. The first level classification panes can be generated based onuser input. A first level classification pane can be generated for eachassociated keyword. The keyword can be provided by a user. The keywordcan be automatically generated. The display of one or more first levelclassification panes adjacent to a poster frame can cause the posterframe to be highlighted and the display of the user interface to bedarkened. The method can further include enabling grouping the items ofdigital content based on the keyword. Enabling the user to associate theposter frame with the first level classification pane can includeenabling the user to perform operations including positioning a cursoron the poster frame, selecting the poster frame, and moving the posterframe to the first level classification pane. Associating the keywordwith the item can include the keyword in metadata associated with theitem. The method can further include displaying one or more second levelclassification panes adjacent to a poster frame corresponding to theitem, wherein the second level classification pane is a furtherclassification of the first level classification pane and the secondlevel classification pane is associated with a second keyword, andenabling a user to transfer a poster frame transferred to a first levelclassification pane to the second level classification pane, wherein thetransferring causes the second keyword associated to be associated withthe item to which the poster frame corresponds. The method can furtherinclude enabling grouping the items of digital content based on thesecond keyword.

In another aspect, a medium bearing instructions to enable one or moremachines to perform operations is described. The operations includedisplaying one or more poster frames in a user interface, wherein aposter frame corresponds to an item of digital content, displaying oneor more first level classification panes adjacent to a poster framecorresponding to an item to be classified, wherein a first levelclassification pane is associated with a keyword, and enabling a user toassociate a poster frame with a first level classification pane to causethe keyword associated with the first level classification pane to beassociated with the item to which the poster frame corresponds.

This, and other aspects, can include one or more of the followingfeatures. The first level classification panes can be generated based onuser input. A first level classification pane can be generated for eachassociated keyword. The keyword can be provided by a user. The keywordcan be automatically generated. The display of one or more first levelclassification panes adjacent to a poster frame can cause the posterframe to be highlighted and the display of the user interface to bedarkened. The operations can further include enabling grouping the itemsof digital content based on the keyword. Enabling the user to associatethe poster frame with the first level classification pane can includeenabling the user to perform additional operations including positioninga cursor on the poster frame, selecting the poster frame, and moving theposter frame to the first level classification pane. Associating thekeyword with the item can include the keyword in metadata associatedwith the item. The operations can further include displaying one or moresecond level classification panes adjacent to a poster framecorresponding to the item, wherein the second level classification paneis a further classification of the first level classification pane andthe second level classification pane is associated with a secondkeyword, and enabling a user to transfer a poster frame transferred to afirst level classification pane to the second level classification pane,wherein the transferring causes the second keyword associated to beassociated with the item to which the poster frame corresponds. Theoperations can further include enabling grouping the items of digitalcontent based on the second keyword.

The systems and techniques described here can present one or more of thefollowing advantages. Presenting all items of digital content, includingraw footage, finished projects, and the like, can enable the user toinstantly access any item. Arranging the items in a sequencecorresponding to the time when each item was created and modified cansimplify searching for the items. A first level classification of theitems of digital content can allow a user to quickly sort through alarge number of items and return to the sorted items for furtherediting. Additional levels of classification can allow a user to furthersort the items. Associating a keyword with each item based on theclassification can enable a user to subsequently group the items basedon the keyword and edit all items that share a common keywordsimultaneously. Automatic generation and assignment of keywords based onthe content can enable a user to separate content, e.g., good and badcontent. Providing users with a template for capturing content andsubsequently providing keywords associated with the template cansimplify the process of capturing and editing content for an averageuser.

The details of one or more implementations are set forth in theaccompanying drawings and the description below. Other features andadvantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and fromthe claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic of an example of a user interface.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of an example of a user interface displaying afirst level classification.

FIG. 3 is a schematic of an example of a user interface displaying asecond level classification.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of an example of a process for classifying itemsof digital content.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic of a user interface 100 for displaying one ormore items of digital content. The user interface 100 can be displayedon a display device of a system on which digital content editingsoftware is installed. The items of digital content can include video,audio, images, and the like, stored on one or more storage devicesoperatively coupled to the system. A user may have captured the items ofdigital content using a recording instrument such as a camcorder, adigital camera, a cellular telephone, and the like. In someimplementations, each item of digital content can be represented by arectangular poster frame 105. The items can be arranged in rows wherethe poster frame 105 corresponding to the first item is positionedadjacent to the top left edge of the user interface 100, the posterframe 105 corresponding to the second item is positioned at a distanceto the right of the first poster frame 105, and so on. When a posterframe 105 corresponding to the item is positioned adjacent to the topright edge of the user interface 100 such that no other poster framescan be positioned in the same row, a subsequent poster frame 105 can bepositioned in a second row, vertically displaced from the first row. Inthis manner, poster frames 105 corresponding to items of digital contentcan be arranged in one or more rows. The position of each poster frame105 can correspond to a time when the corresponding item of digitalcontent was captured, so that the progression of time in the userinterface 100 corresponds to the arrangement of poster frames 105 fromleft to right and from top to bottom.

In implementations when the item of digital content is a video file,each video file, captured using a recording instrument, is stored assequence of frames. When an item of digital content displayed in theuser interface is a video file, one of the frames in the video file canbe displayed within the bounded region of the poster frame 105representing the video file to enable identifying the file. In someimplementations, the frame can be the first frame in the video file.Alternatively, the frame can be any frame in the video file that theuser can assign as representative of the video file. In someimplementations, the user can scrub the content of the video file, i.e.,preview the contents of the video file, by scanning a cursor controlledby a pointing device, e.g., a mouse over the poster frame representingthe video file. Each position of the cursor on the poster frame cancorrespond to a frame in the video file which the poster framerepresents. Scanning the cursor from left to right displays the framescorresponding to the cursor in the bounded region of the poster frame inthe sequence in which the frames were recorded. Similarly, scanning thecursor from right to left displays the frames corresponding to thecursor in the bounded region of the poster frame in the sequenceopposite to that in which the frames were recorded. The user can selecta frame in the video file to represent the video file by scrubbing thecontents of the video file. The selected frame can be displayed in thebounded region of the poster frame 105 representing the file. When acursor is placed on a poster frame 105, the frame corresponding to theposition of the cursor can be displayed within the bounded region of theposter frame 105. Subsequently, when the cursor is removed from theposter frame 105, the poster frame 105 assigned to represent the videofile can be displayed. Alternatively, the frame corresponding to thelast position of the cursor on the poster frame 105 can be displayed.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a user interface 100 displaying a first levelclassification for storing the items of digital content. In someimplementations, the user can classify an item of digital content, e.g.,a video file, based on the content. For example, all the videos that auser captured can relate to a common event such as a soccer game. Theuser may have captured each video file at different periods during thegame. Not all the captured video may be of good quality. For example, anamateur user of a video camera may have forgotten to remove the lens capduring recording. In another example, the user may not have held thecamera steadily, which may result in shaking in the recorded content.The first level of classification can include separating good and badcontent.

In some implementations, the user can capture video based on sections ofa template, where the template relates to a story board and each sectionrelates to an event in the story. The template can be generated by thesystem or by the user. For example, the template can be related to asoccer game where each section of the template represents an event thatcan occur frequently in a soccer game, e.g., team arrival, team warm up,passes, goals, corners, penalty shootout, and the like. The first levelof classification can include identifying items of video that correspondto each event and separating the items based on the classification.

In some implementations, the user can provide input to the video editingsoftware that the user wishes to classify the video files displayed onthe user interface 100. Upon detecting user input, the display of theuser interface 100 may be darkened, while the first poster frame 105displayed adjacent to the top left edge of the user interface 100 can behighlighted. In addition, one or more first level classification(Level 1) panes 205 can be displayed adjacent to the highlighted posterframe 105. Each level 1 pane 205 can correspond to a category in theclassification. For example, if the classification includes separatingthe video files into good and bad video files, the level 1 panes 205 canbe “Good,” and “Bad” panes. If the classification includes separatingthe video files into events based on a story board template, e.g., for asoccer game, then the level 1 panes 205 can be “Team warm up,” “Passes,”“Goals,” “Corners,” “Penalty shoot out,” panes and the like.

The user can scrub the contents of the video file to by scanning thecursor across the poster frame 105 and view the frames of the videofile. Based on the contents, the user can place a video file in one ofthe level 1 panes 205 by, e.g., selecting the poster frame 105 using thecursor, and moving the selected poster frame 105 to the desired level 1pane 205. In response to the user moving a poster frame 105 to thedesired level 1 pane 205, the corresponding video file can be associatedwith a keyword that is representative of the level 1 pane 205 to whichit was moved. The software can be configured to include the keyword tothe metadata related to the video file. In some implementations, keywords can be associated by methods including manually by user input, orautomatically, e.g., based on audio recognition, e.g., speechrecognition, time of day, light settings, and the like. In this manner,a video file can be classified based on the content. Similarly, any itemof digital content can be transferred to a level 1 classification pane205 and associated a keyword related to the level 1 classification pane205.

In some implementations, subsequent to the user classifying the firstvideo file, the poster frame 105 representing the first video file canbe darkened, the second poster frame 105 representing the second videofile can be highlighted, and the level 1 panes can be displayed aroundthe second poster frame 105. The user can select and move the posterframe 105 representing the second video file to one of the level 1 panesto classify the second video file. In response, the classified videofile can be associated with a keyword that is representative of thelevel 1 classification pane 205. The user can repeat this process forall the poster frames 105, thereby classifying all the video files. Inother implementations, subsequent to the first video file beingclassified, the second poster frame 105 can be displayed at the locationof the first poster frame 105. The user can move the second poster frame105 to one of the level 1 panes 205. For every instance where the usermoves a poster frame 105 to one of the level 1 panes 205, the subsequentposter frame 105 can be moved to the location of the previous posterframe 105 in the user interface 100 to enable the user to classify themoved video file. In some implementations, the user can select one ormore poster frames 105 to move only the selected poster frames 105 tolevel 1 panes 205. In other implementations, the first poster frame 105that the user chooses to classify can be a poster frame 105 positionedat any location in the user interface 100.

FIG. 3 depicts a schematic of a user interface 100 which includes level1 classification panes 205 and level 2 classification panes 305. In someimplementations, the user can use the first level classification ofmoving poster frames 105 into level 1 panes 205 as a method to quicklysort the items. Subsequent to the first level classification, the usercan perform a second level classification, where one or more categoriesin the first level classification can have corresponding second levelcategories. In some implementations, the user can perform a first levelclassification to quickly associate keywords to each item of digitalcontent. Subsequently, the user can further classify the items undereach level 1 pane 205. In such implementations, when the user providesinput to perform a second level classification, the poster frame 105representing the item of digital content 105 which the user wishes toclassify can be highlighted along with the level 1 pane 205 in which theitem of digital content 105 has been placed. In addition, one or morelevel 2 panes 305 can be displayed adjacent to the level 1 pane 205,where the level 2 panes 305 are sub-categories related to the level 1pane 205. The remaining level 1 panes 205 and the remaining portions ofthe user interface 100 can be darkened.

The user can position the cursor on the poster frame 105 representingthe item of digital content 105 to select the item and move the item tothe desired level 2 pane 305. In other implementations, the user canposition the cursor on the level 1 pane 205 which can cause a frame ofthe item of digital content 105 to appear in the bounded region of thelevel 1 pane 205. Subsequently, the user can move the frame from thelevel 1 pane 205 and place it on the level 2 pane 305. In response tothe user placing the item of digital content 105 in the level 2 pane, aline connecting the level 2 pane 305 to the level 1 pane 205 and anotherline connecting the level 1 pane 205 to the poster frame 105representing the item of digital content 105 can be displayed on theuser interface 100 to enable a user to identify the classification ofthe item 105.

In this manner, a user can follow a quick classification of items 105 bya more detailed classification. In other implementations, when the userplaces an item 105 in a level 1 pane 205, any level 2 panes 305corresponding to the level 1 pane 205 can be displayed on the userinterface 100. The user can further classify the item 105 by placing theitem 105 in a level 2 pane 305, restrict classification to only a firstlevel, or access the first level classifications at a subsequent time tofurther classify the items. In some implementations, the categoriesrepresented by the level 1 panes 105 and the level 2 panes 305 can begenerated by the software providing the user interface 100.Alternatively, the categories can be generated by the user. In someimplementations, the user can add categories to the first level andsecond level classification categories offered by the system. When asecond level classification is added to an item of digital content, asecond keyword can be associated with the item. The second keyword canbe included in the metadata related to the item such that the item canbe identified by both the first level classification keyword as well asthe second level classification keyword.

FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart of an example of a process for classifyingitems of digital content based on the content. One or more items ofdigital content can be displayed in a user interface at 405. The itemsof digital content can include virtually any digital content such asvideo files, audio files, images, documents, and the like, where theitems include raw footage as well as projects created from the rawfootage. The software presenting the interface can be configured toupload the items from one or more storage devices operatively coupled tothe system on which the software is installed. In some implementations,the software can search the system for storage devices, upload the itemsstored on the storage devices, and display each item by a correspondingrectangular poster frame when the software is launched on the system. Inother implementations, the user can select one or more items of digitalcontent to be presented on the user interface. The items of digitalcontent can be displayed as poster frames where the first poster frameis positioned adjacent to the top left edge within the boundary of theuser interface, the second poster frame is positioned to the right ofthe first poster frame in a first row, the third poster frame ispositioned to the right of the second poster frame in the first row, andso on. Poster frames that cannot be positioned in the first row can bepositioned in a second, vertically displaced row. In this manner, theposter frames representing the items of digital content can be arrangedin rows, where the position of the poster frames corresponds to a timewhen the item was captured. Thus, in this implementation, theprogression of time can correspond to a sequence of poster framesstarting from left to right and from top to bottom.

Input to classify the items of digital content can be received at 410.In some implementations, the system can be configured to upload theitems of digital content into the user interface, display each item by acorresponding poster frame, and classify the items based on the content,e.g., as a video file, an audio file, an image, and the like, or byother metadata associated with each item such as the file name, filesize, and the like. Alternatively, input to classify the items can bereceived from a user. For example, the user can select a button on theuser interface configured to present the user with a panes to enableclassifying the items of digital content. The user can select the buttonon the user interface and select a poster frame representing an item ofdigital content, e.g., by placing a cursor on the poster frame andclicking on the poster frame. In response to the user selecting a posterframe, one or more first level classification panes can be displayedaround the selected poster frame. In some implementations, the firstlevel classification panes can include categories offered by thesoftware. For example, the first level classification panes can include“Good” and “Bad” panes. Alternatively, the first level classificationpanes can correspond to sections of a template, where the templaterepresents a story board provided to the user to assist the user tocapture content. For example, the user may wish to record a soccer game.The software can include a “Soccer game” template further includingsections such as “Team warm up,” “Passes,” “Goals,” “Corner kicks,”“Penalty shootout,” and the like. Each first level classification panecan represent a repository into which one or more items of digitalcontent can be placed.

Input to classify an item of digital content by placing the poster framecorresponding to the item in a first level classification pane can bereceived at 420. In some implementations, the input can be received froma user, where a user can select a poster frame corresponding to an itemof digital content, move the selected poster frame, and place the framein the first level classification pane. Each first level classificationpane can be associated with a keyword that can, in turn, be associatedwith the item of digital content placed in the first levelclassification pane at 425. All items placed in the same first levelclassification pane can be associated with a common keyword, enablinggrouping the items based on the keyword. The keyword for aclassification pane can be generated by the software or by the user.Alternatively, the software can be configured to generate a keyword andpresent the keyword to the user. The user can either accept or replacethe keyword. The keyword can be included in the metadata of the item.Upon classifying an item of digital content and associating a keyword,the presence of more items of digital content for a first levelclassification can be checked at 430. If more items are present, thenthe placing the additional items in classification levels at 420 and theassociating of keywords corresponding to the classification at 425 canbe performed. If no more items are present, the availability ofadditional levels of classification can be checked at 435. In someimplementations, placing an item in a first level classification panecan cause one or more second level classification panes, associated withthe first level, to be displayed on the user interface to enableadditional classification. A user can further classify the item byplacing the item in the second level classification pane at 440. Thiscan cause a second keyword to be associated with the item at 445. Thesecond keyword can be included in the metadata of the item. In additionto enabling grouping based on the first level classification keyword,grouping based on keywords for each additional level of classificationcan also be enabled. A first level classification can enable a user toquickly categorize each item so that the user can subsequently return tothe item for further classification. In other implementations, when anitem is placed in a first level classification pane, second levelclassification panes, if any, can be displayed, enabling a user tofurther classify the item. Each level classification pane can representa repository where the items can be stored. A user can upload items intothe user interface based on the associated keywords, edit items underthe same category, move items from one category to another, and performvirtually any editing operation to the items in a category.

Implementations of the subject matter and the functional operationsdescribed in this specification can be implemented in digital electroniccircuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including thestructures disclosed in this specification and their structuralequivalents, or in combinations of one or more of them. Implementationsof the subject matter described in this specification can be implementedas one or more computer program products, i.e., one or more modules ofcomputer program instructions encoded on a computer-readable medium forexecution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus.The computer-readable medium can be a machine-readable storage device, amachine-readable storage substrate, a memory device, a composition ofmatter effecting a machine-readable propagated signal, or a combinationof one or more of them. The term “data processing apparatus” encompassesall apparatus, devices, and machines for processing data, including byway of example a programmable processor, a computer, or multipleprocessors or computers. The apparatus can include, in addition tohardware, code that creates an execution environment for the computerprogram in question, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, aprotocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, or acombination of one or more of them. A propagated signal is anartificially generated signal, e.g., a machine-generated electrical,optical, or electromagnetic signal, that is generated to encodeinformation for transmission to suitable receiver apparatus.

A computer program (also known as a program, software, softwareapplication, script, or code) can be written in any form of programminglanguage, including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can bedeployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module,component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computingenvironment. A computer program does not necessarily correspond to afile in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a filethat holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in amarkup language document), in a single file dedicated to the program inquestion, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store oneor more modules, sub-programs, or portions of code). A computer programcan be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computersthat are located at one site or distributed across multiple sites andinterconnected by a communication network.

The processes and logic flows described in this specification can beperformed by one or more programmable processors executing one or morecomputer programs to perform functions by operating on input data andgenerating output. The processes and logic flows can also be performedby, and apparatus can also be implemented as, special purpose logiccircuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC(application-specific integrated circuit).

Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, byway of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, andany one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, aprocessor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory ora random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer area processor for performing instructions and one or more memory devicesfor storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will alsoinclude, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer datato, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g.,magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks. However, a computerneed not have such devices. Moreover, a computer can be embedded inanother device, e.g., a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a mobile audio player, a Global Positioning System (GPS)receiver, to name just a few. Computer-readable media suitable forstoring computer program instructions and data include all forms ofnon-volatile memory, media and memory devices, including by way ofexample semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flashmemory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removabledisks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. Theprocessor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in,special purpose logic circuitry.

To provide for interaction with a user, implementations of the subjectmatter described in this specification can be implemented on a computerhaving a display device, e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquidcrystal display) monitor, for displaying information to the user and akeyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by whichthe user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices canbe used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example,feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g.,visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input fromthe user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech,near-touch input, or tactile input.

Implementations of the subject matter described in this specificationcan be implemented in a computing system that includes a back-endcomponent, e.g., as a data server, or that includes a middlewarecomponent, e.g., an application server, or that includes a front-endcomponent, e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface ora Web browser through which a user can interact with an implementationof the subject matter described is this specification, or anycombination of one or more such back-end, middleware, or front-endcomponents. The components of the system can be interconnected by anyform or medium of digital data communication, e.g., a communicationnetwork. Examples of communication networks include a local area network(“LAN”) and a wide area network (“WAN”), e.g., the Internet.

The computing system can include clients and servers. A client andserver are generally remote from each other and typically interactthrough a communication network. The relationship of client and serverarises by virtue of computer programs running on the respectivecomputers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

While this specification contains many specifics, these should not beconstrued as limitations on the scope of the disclosure or of what maybe claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific toparticular implementations of the disclosure. Certain features that aredescribed in this specification in the context of separateimplementations can also be implemented in combination in a singleimplementation. Conversely, various features that are described in thecontext of a single implementation can also be implemented in multipleimplementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover,although features may be described above as acting in certaincombinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more featuresfrom a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from thecombination, and the claimed combination may be directed to asubcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particularorder, this should not be understood as requiring that such operationsbe performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, orthat all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirableresults. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processingmay be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various systemcomponents in the implementations described above should not beunderstood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and itshould be understood that the described program components and systemscan generally be integrated together in a single software product orpackaged into multiple software products.

A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it willbe understood that various modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the disclosure. For example, the item ofdigital content can be an audio, an image, or any type of digitalcontent including documents. For example, a poster frame on the userinterface can represent an album containing photographs where the usercan scrub the poster frame to view each photograph. Alternatively, theposter frame can represent a document containing several pages where theuser can scrub the poster frame to view each page of the document. Thelevels of classification can be automatically generated based on thecontent of the item. For example, the user interface can display acombination of items including video files, audio files, documents,images, and the like. The system can detect the type of digital content,e.g., based on a file name extension, create a first levelclassification including “Video,” “Audio,” “Documents,” “Images,” panesand the like, move the items to the respective pane, and associaterepresentative keywords to the metadata related to each item. Inaddition, the user interface can display both raw footage includingdigital content captured using recording instruments as well as finishedprojects which included edited content that is stored.

In other implementations, the software can be configured to create firstlevel classifications including “Good,” and “Bad” panes. The softwarecan be configured to scan the contents of the item and identifyundesirable items that include poorly exposed images, completely darkvideo files, shaky video files, and the like, and associate keywordsthat indicate that the files are unsuitable for viewing. The softwarecan be configured to present the “Bad” items to the user who can eitheraccept or reject the classification. In some implementations, thekeywords associated with the items of digital content can be used tosubsequently group the items. The keyword associated to each item can beidentified from the metadata of the items and used to group the items.The software can be configured to automatically group the items based onkeywords in the metadata. In some implementations, the user can providea list of keywords. Upon receiving the keywords, a classification panecan be generated for each keyword. Subsequently, the user can assign alevel to each keyword which can cause the corresponding classificationpane to be displayed on the user interface. In other implementations,the software can be configured to generate a classification pane foreach generated keyword and display the generated classification panes onthe user interface. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scopeof the following claims.

1. A computer-implemented method for classifying digital content, themethod comprising: displaying one or more poster frames in a userinterface, wherein a poster frame corresponds to an item of digitalcontent; displaying one or more first level classification panesadjacent to a poster frame corresponding to an item to be classified,wherein a first level classification pane is associated with a keyword;and enabling a user to associate a poster frame with a first levelclassification pane to cause the keyword associated with the first levelclassification pane to be associated with the item to which the posterframe corresponds.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first levelclassification panes are generated based on user input.
 3. The method ofclaim 2 wherein a first level classification pane is generated for eachassociated keyword.
 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the keyword isprovided by a user.
 5. The method of claim 3 wherein the keyword isautomatically generated.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the display ofone or more first level classification panes adjacent to a poster framecauses the poster frame to be highlighted and the display of the userinterface to be darkened.
 7. The method of claim 1 further comprisingenabling grouping the items of digital content based on the keyword. 8.The method of claim 1 wherein enabling the user to associate the posterframe with the first level classification pane comprises enabling theuser to perform operations comprising: positioning a cursor on theposter frame; selecting the poster frame; and moving the poster frame tothe first level classification pane.
 9. The method of claim 1 whereinassociating the keyword with the item comprises including the keyword inmetadata associated with the item.
 10. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising: displaying one or more second level classification panesadjacent to a poster frame corresponding to the item, wherein the secondlevel classification pane is a further classification of the first levelclassification pane and the second level classification pane isassociated with a second keyword; and enabling a user to transfer aposter frame transferred to a first level classification pane to thesecond level classification pane, wherein the transferring causes thesecond keyword associated to be associated with the item to which theposter frame corresponds.
 11. The method of claim 10 further comprisingenabling grouping the items of digital content based on the secondkeyword.
 12. A medium bearing instructions to enable one or moremachines to perform operations, the operations comprising: displayingone or more poster frames in a user interface, wherein a poster framecorresponds to an item of digital content; displaying one or more firstlevel classification panes adjacent to a poster frame corresponding toan item to be classified, wherein a first level classification pane isassociated with a keyword; and enabling a user to associate a posterframe with a first level classification pane to cause the keywordassociated with the first level classification pane to be associatedwith the item to which the poster frame corresponds.
 13. The medium ofclaim 12 wherein the first level classification panes are generatedbased on user input.
 14. The medium of claim 13 wherein a first levelclassification pane is generated for each associated keyword.
 15. Themedium of claim 14 wherein the keyword is provided by a user.
 16. Themedium of claim 14 wherein the keyword is automatically generated. 17.The medium of claim 12 wherein the display of one or more first levelclassification panes adjacent to a poster frame causes the poster frameto be highlighted and the display of the user interface to be darkened.18. The medium of claim 12 further comprising enabling grouping theitems of digital content based on the keyword.
 19. The medium of claim12 wherein enabling the user to associate the poster frame with thefirst level classification pane comprises enabling the user to performoperations comprising: positioning a cursor on the poster frame;selecting the poster frame; and moving the poster frame to the firstlevel classification pane.
 20. The medium of claim 12 whereinassociating the keyword with the item comprises including the keyword inmetadata associated with the item.
 21. The medium of claim 12 furthercomprising: displaying one or more second level classification panesadjacent to a poster frame corresponding to the item, wherein the secondlevel classification pane is a further classification of the first levelclassification pane and the second level classification pane isassociated with a second keyword; and enabling a user to transfer aposter frame transferred to a first level classification pane to thesecond level classification pane, wherein the transferring causes thesecond keyword associated to be associated with the item to which theposter frame corresponds.
 22. The medium of claim 21 further comprisingenabling grouping the items of digital content based on the secondkeyword.